The 140-year-old Ayurvedic and Natural FMCG company, Dabur India Limited, on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tamil Nadu government in the presence of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin at the Secretariat here to set up a new consumer goods manufacturing facility at SIPCOT Tindivanam.
It would be Dabur’s first such unit in south India. According to the company, the MoU outlines an approved investment of ₹135 crore in phase 1, which would be scaled up to ₹400 crore over a period of five years. The project is expected to generate direct employment for around 250 people, and thousands of indirect jobs. The state-of-the-art multi-category facility will be among the most-modern and environment-friendly manufacturing units of Dabur.
Rahul Awasthi, Global Head of Operations, Dabur India Limited, told The Hindu: “We have received the land allotment order. The construction will begin in three to four months. In the first phase, three products will be manufactured at this plant – Dabur Honey, Red Toothpaste and Odonil Air Freshener. The first phase will be up and operational in 18 months...”
In the second phase, the company would focus on the food portfolio, Mr. Awasthi added.
He further said, “Tamil Nadu is an ideal location for us because our materials go to the depots from factories. Logistically, Tindivanam is in the centre of three of our major depots in the south. We also procure raw materials for the juice category from Krishnagiri [pulp from mango and guava is sourced]. From sourcing to overall cost model, this was our best option.”
Dabur India Limited’s Chief Executive Officer Mohit Malhotra said: “This investment will allow us to better serve the growing demand for our products in south India, and strengthen our market presence in the region.”
Tamil Nadu’s Industries Minister T.R.B. Rajaa posted on X (formerly Twitter), “Welcome to Tamil Nadu, @DaburIndia. In fact, welcome to south India! In the presence of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin today, [we] signed an MoU with Dabur for the establishment of a world-class manufacturing plant, their first ever in south India.”
SEOC opened
Meanwhle, in another event, Mr. Stalin inaugurated the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC), which has been upgraded as the Multi Hazard Early Warning Centre at a cost of ₹5.13 crore at the Ezhilagam complex in Chepauk.
The SEOC could accommodate all stakeholder departments in relief and rescue operations. It collects inputs from designated nodal agencies for rainfall, cyclone, floods, landslide and earthquake, and disseminates alerts to the district administration, related departments and other stakeholders.
Research fellowship
Mr. Stalin also handed over orders granting research fellowship to 120 students — 60 in arts disciplines and 60 in science streams. He later handed over appointment orders to new recruits in the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department, and released the coffee table book Future is Here – Khelo India Games 2023 published by the Youth Welfare and Sports Development Department.
Ministers K. Ponmudy, E.V. Velu, K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran, M.R.K. Panneerselvam, Udhayanidhi Stalin and Mr. Rajaa; Chief Secretary N. Muruganandam; and senior officials were present during these events at the Secretariat.
Published - August 22, 2024 01:27 pm IST
